Heat exchanging apparatus



.uy 7, E70 L* R. GREEN 3,519,069

HEAT EXCIAIIGING APPARATUS Filed June 3, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

July 7, 1970 L.; R. GREEN HEAT EXCHANGING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed June 3, 1968 32? Juy 7, 1970 L. R. GREEN HEAT EXCHANGING APPARATUS3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 3. 1968 INVENTOR. BY ee /Fa/f/ free/7 UnitedStates Patent O 3,519,069 HEAT EXCHANGING APPARATUS Lee Robert Green,211 Wayne Ave., Indialantic, Fla. 32901 Filed June 3, 1968, Ser. No.733,859 Int. Cl. FZSd 23/12 U.S. Cl. 16S 122 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE This application contains a technical disclosure of a heatexchanging apparatus in the nature of air conditioning equipment wherebyair of interior spaces may be heated or cooled by passing such airthrough either of two compartments thereof containing heating or coolingheat exchangers. The apparatus is provided at opposite ends with movableclosures for the compartments which are so positioned that, at each end,when one compartment is open the other compartment is closed. Theseclosures are also interconnected such that when the opening of eachcompartment is closed at one end, that compartment is open at the otherend. Interior air is drawn into either of the compartments, heated orcooled therein, and returned to the interior space, while outside oratmospheric air is similarly drawn into the other compartment where itremoves or adds heat from or to the heat exchanger in that compartment.Air circulation means in the form of fans are provided, with squirrelcage type fans having ducts leading to each opening for each compartmentshown as a preferred embodiment. The use of movable and removableclosures, such as slidable panels or equivalents, permits ready accessto the interior components of the apparatus for repair and maintenance,while the identical nature of the apparatus at opposite ends furthersimplies structure, installation and servicing. Humidity content controland automatic controls for the compartment closures, as well as a modeof operating wherein interior air is exchanged for atmospheric air, arecontained in the technical disclosure. The equipment is adaptable tomanufacture for large scale (roof type) installations, window type airconditioning, and smaller automobile type air conditioners.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to improved heatexchanging apparatus and particularly to such apparatus utilized in airconditioning systems. More particularly this invention relates toapparatus which may be utilized for both heating and cooling air spacesof various sizes and which may be utilized in the form of smallequipment such as automobile and window-type room air conditioners aswell as in larger air conditioning systems such as are required forheating and cooling homes, stores, warehouses and factories.

While various types of heat exchanging apparatus are known foraccomplishing this type of summer and winter air conditioning, many ofsuch devices require complex equipment, are diflicult to install,maintain and repair, are relatively ineffective and inefficient in theiroperation, and frequently fail to operate in either the heating orcooling function if operating satisfactorily in the opposite function.In particular, the arrangement, complexity and large numbers ofcomponent parts in devices known in this field of heat exchangingapparatus makes difficult the servicing so frequently required by suchdevices. Even more particularly, the complex closure components andcontrols therefore in such devices cause frequent trouble, interruptingoperation at critical times, and require extensive and ditlicult repairand maintenance.

ICC

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention described herein is directed tothe solution of problems encountered in prior art devices by theprovision of heat exchanging apparatus having its components arrangednot only for more eicient operation but also simplified for ease ininstallation, operation, maintenance and repair.

It is an object of this invention to provide a heat exchanging apparatuswhich may be utilized to both heat and cool air spaces of various sizes.

It is a further object of this invention to provide air conditioningapparatus for such purposes having novel simplified closure means andcontrols therefor to permit such apparatus to be easily shifted in itsfunction from a heating system to a cooling system.

Further objects of this invention include the provision of airconditioning apparatus whereby interior air spaces may be directlyconnected with the outside atmosphere to permit various modes ofoperation of heating, cooling and direct ventilation as may be desired.

Still another object of this invention is to provide apparatus wherebythe moisture content of air which is conditioned thereby may becontrolled as may be desired in any of the modes of operation.

Further objects of this invention will be apparent from the descriptionof the invention which follows and by reference to the attacheddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred embodiments of the inventionare shown in the drawings wherein:

FIG. l is a perspective View of a preferred form of the lnvention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on the lines 2 2 of FIG. l, withadditional parts broken away and shown in section;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the lines 3 3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the lines 4 4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of certain of the interiorcomponents of a preferred form of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on the lines 6 6 0f FIG. l;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the constructionof the retaining members at the open ends of the preferred form of theinvention shown in the drawings;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a preferred form of the inventionillustrating the manner in which the invention may be utilized toachieve ventilation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION Reference is rst made to the drawings,wherein like reference numerals refer to identical parts appearing inthe various figures of the drawings.

The preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawings includes the heatexchanging apparatus 10 having a casing 16 with oppositely positionedopen ends 40 and 42. Secured to these open ends of the casing 16 areretaining members 12 and 1S which are structurally identical, eachhaving an integrally formed track space 13 and secured to the casing 16by a plurality of screws 14. The casing 16 houses a compartmentalizedstructure 18 and a fan unit 20. The compartmentalized structure 18 iscomposed of dual compartments 19 and 21, the openings of which at eachend correspond with the open ends 40 and 42 of the casing 16. Eachcompartment contains means for circulating air therethrough, such asfans. The fan unit 20 is comprised of a fan motor 26, fans 28 and 30,each associated with compartments 19 and 21 and each being mounted on acommon drive shaft 27. Positioned at the ends of suitable sheet metalducts (as shown most clearly in FIG. 5) are openings 29 at each end forfan 28 and openings 31 at each end for fan 30, these opening similarlycorresponding with the open ends 40 and 42 of the casing 16. Thecompartmentalized structure 18 is attached by any suitable means (notshown) to a base plate 22. Structure 18 includes a vertically standingcenter reinforcing rib 24 and an end Wall 25 for supporting the fan unit20.

Centrally positioned in each of the compartments 19 and 21 of thecompartmentalized structure 18 are heat exchanging units 32 and 34,these being disposed below and cooperating with, respectively, the fanunit 28 and the fan unit 30. In the preferred embodiment hereindescribed, one of these heat exchanging units 32 consists of a condenserunit for heating the air circulated in one compartment, 19, by the fanunit, while the other heat exchanging unit 34 consists of an evaporatorfor cooling the air circulated through the other compartment 21. In theembodiment herein described, the heat exchanging units 32 and 34 areinterconnected through a compressor 60, this compressor being locatedwithin the compressor housing 62, shown as formed by the side Wall 64and the back wall 66 which form a part of the compartmentalizedstructure 18.

At each of the oppositely positioned open ends of the casing 16, closuremeans are provided, these being indicated by 36 and 38 in the preferredembodiment of this invention illustrate-d by FIGS. l through 8. Theclosure means of FIGS. 1 through 8 consist of panels 36 and 38 slidablymounted in the retainer members 12 and 15 respectively in the trackportion 13 as shown associated with retainer member 12 in FIG. 7.Slidable panels 36 and 38 are constructed of size approximately equal tothat of the openings of the compartments 19 and 21 at each end of thecasing 16 and are positioned such that they may be slidably moved toalternatively close the openings of each of said compartments at eachend of the casing.

The closure means, i.e. the slidable panels 36 and 38 of FIGS. 1 through8, are interconnected such that closing therewith the opening of eithercompartment 19 or 21 at one end of said casing 16 closes the opening ofthe other compartment at the opposite end of said casing. While varioustypes of interconnecting means may be utilized for this purpose there isillustrated in FIGS. 1 through 8, a continuous cable 54 which isthreaded through a plurality of guide pulleys 56, supported by brackets58 and attached by any suitable means such as clamping to the door pulls59. A motor 50 having a drive pulley 52 may be used to drive continuouscable 54. When a motor 50 is utilized to drive the cable 54 connectingwith the panels 36 and 38, the motor can be switch actuated and can befurther controlled by stop switches (not shown) attached to the slidablepanels so that temperature control is effected of the space to beconditioned.

The heat exchanging apparatus herein described functions both as aheating system and as a cooling system and as a temperature control forconditioning air spaces, either for small rooms or for stores andwarehouses of large areas, in the manner now to be described.

Referring again to the drawings, in which a relatively small airconditioning unit has been disclosed and described in detail only forthe purpose of illustrating the principle of this invention, FIG. 3thereof depicts such a unit mounted in a wall, although it is to beunderstood that such a unit or larger versions of such a unit might bemounted in a number of different Ways varying from the conventionalwindow mounting to a roof type installation having ducts leading to thespaces to be heated and cooled.

The unit shown in the drawings may be installed with either of its openends 40 or 42 of casing 16 facing or connected with the spaces to be airconditioned, although for purposes of decribing herein below the mannerin which this unit functions, the unitis described as having the openend 40 facing the spaces to be air conditioned.

In FIGS. 1 through 3 of the drawings, and as seen most clearly in FIG.l, the slidable panel 36 is shown positioned to the left within the openend 40 of the heat exchanging apparatus. In this position the opening ofcompartment 21, corresponding with the open end 40 of casing 16, facesthe space to be air conditioned. As has been described above, and as maybe best seen in FIG. 3, when the slidable panel 36 is so positioned, theslidable panel 38 at open end 42 of the casing 16 is positioned suchthat the opening of compartment 21 corresponding with the open end 42 ofcasing 16 is closed.

When the fan motor 26 is activated the air circulating means, shown as asquirrel cage type fan 30 having ducts 31 connected to the openings ofcompartment 21 at one end, draws air into compartment 21, through theopen end 40, through the heat exchanging unit 34 and through the end ofthe squirrel cage fan. Fan 30 then forces the air through the metal ductwhich forms the fan outlet 31, back into the space from which the airwas drawn. This air flow is illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3 by arrowsindicating air currents.

Because slidable panel 38 closes the opening of compartment 21 at theopposite end thereof, there is no flow of outside or atmospheric airinto compartment 21 or from that compartment through the metal duct 31connected with that opening of the compartment at the open end 42 of thecasing 16.

`Concurrently with the above described operation, since slidable panel36 is positioned such that the opening of compartment 19 (correspondingwith the open end 48 of casing 16) is closed, and since slidable panel38 closes the opening of compartment 21 at the opposite end of the heatexchanging apparatus, the opening of compartment 19 at this end is notclosed. Accordingly outside or atmospheric air is drawn into compartment19 by the action of the air circulating means, fan 28 driven by fanmotor 26, this air being drawn through the heat exchanging unit 32, intothe center of the squirrel cage type fan 28 from where it is then forcedthrough the metal duct 29 back into the outside atmosphere. This flow ofair through compartment 19 is shown by the arrows indicating aircurrents, best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4.

There has thus been described the manner in which air from the spaces tobe air conditioned has been passed through com-partment 21 in which itis passed through the heat exchanger 34, While concurrently outsideatmospheric air has been drawn through compartment 19 in which it passesthrough heat exchanger 32 before being ejected back into the outsideatmosphere. As has been described above, heat exchanger 34 in theembodiment described, consists of an evaporator unit for cooling the aircirculated through compartment 21, while heat exchanger unit 32 is acondenser unit for heating the air circulated through compartment 19,the condenser unit and the evaporator unit being interconnected by thecompressor 60. It will thus be seen that, with the closure means 36 and38 positioned as shown in the drawings, room air will be cooled by theheat exchanging apparatus herein described while outside or atmosphericair will be used to cool the condenser unit in compartment 19.

When it is desired to use the heat exchanging apparatus herein describedas a heating unit for the air of interior spaces such as rooms, stores,or warehouses, the closure means 36 is slidably moved to close theopening of compartment 21 connecting with the spaces to be airconditioned thereby opening compartment 19 to such spaces.Interconnecting means between the slidable panel 36 and the slidablepanel 38, shown in the drawings as a continuous cable 54 connecting withthe door pulls 59 on each of the slidable panels, cause slidable panel38 at the opposite end of casing 16 to be slidably moved so that it ispositioned to close the opning of compartment 19 at that end and to openthe opening of compartment 21 to the atmosphere at that end. Thereafter,by activation of the fan motor 26, fan 28 draws room air throughcompartment 19 and through the heat exchanging unit 32 into the centerof the fan 28 from where it is forced through metal duct 29 back intothe room space from which it Was drawn. Since heat exchanger 32 is acondenser unit for heating the air circulated through compartment 19there is thus effected a heating of the room air in accordance with theteachings of this invention. The closure means 38 in this mode ofoperation has served to prevent the entrance of atmospheric air intocompartment 19 by the action of fan 28 and has served to block the flowof the heated air through metal duct 29 into the atmosphere.

Concurrently with the heating of room air in this mode of operation,atmospheric air is drawn in through compartment 21 through the openingof this compartment corresponding with the open end 42 of casing 16, fan30 drawing this atmospheric air through heat exchanger unit 34 andforcing it through metal duct 31 back into the atmosphere. Since heatexchanger unit 34 in compartment 21 is an evaporator unit for coolingthe air circulated through this compartment, cooling of the atmosphericair results, and the evaporator unit thus performs its normal function,as is conventional with air conditioners.

Thus, the heat exchanging apparatus herein described may be used foreither cooling or heating the air contained Within spaces such as roomsand stores and warehouses, the modes of operation being shifted fromheating to cooling or vice-versa merely by shifting the closure means atone or the other end of the apparatus such that the openings of the dualcompartments are alternatively closed in such a manner that when theopening of either compartment at one end closes, the opening of theother compartment at the opposite end opens.

While the method of operation of the heat exchanging apparatus hereindescribed has in general referred to the closure means as slidablepanels 36 and 3S, these being depicted in FIGS. l through 8, other meansfor opening and closing the openings of compartments 19 and 21 may beutilized and fall within the teachings of this disclosure. Still otherforms of closure means, not shown, may be utilized such as, for example,panels, hinged or pivoted at the center of or at the sides of each ofthe openings in the casing, these being interconnected in various waysto similarly accomplish the results described in the illustratedembodiments.

The heat exchanging apparatus herein described may be effectively usedto exchange room air with atmospheric air by positioning the closuremeans at opposite ends of the casing 16 such that both compartments 19and 21 are connected with both the interior spaces and the outsideatmosphere. As shown more particularly in FIG. 8, the closure means,slidable panel 36, is centrally positioned within the opening 40 forthis purpose. When slidable panel 36 is so positioned, the meansinterconnecting slidable panel 36 with slidable panel 38, i.e. thecontinuous cable 54, causes slidable panel 38 to be similarly centrallypositioned in opening 42, whereby the openings at opposite ends of eachof the compartments are partially opened. Activation of the fan motor 26results in the exchange of room air for atmospheric air through bothcompartments. In such cases the heat exchanging means 32 and 34including the compressor 60, are inactivated by switch means (notshown).

Similarly, when other types of closure means are used, room air andatmospheric air may be interchanged, the closure means being positionedsuch that the openings of both compartments 19 and 21 are partiallyopened to both room spaces and the outside atmosphere.

Reference has been made to the manner of which closing the opening ofeither compartment at one end of the casing closes the opening of theother compartment at the opposite end of the casing, specific mentionbeing made of the use of a continuous cable 54 to connect the slidablepanels 36 and 38. As previously indicated, electrical means such as themotor 50 may be used to drive the continuous cable 54 as best shown inFIGS. 2 and 4, or to rotate the shaft 718 (not shown). Such a motor canbe switch actuated and may be further controlled by stop switchesattached to the closure means for positioning these means properly overthe compartment openings as may be desired.

Reference has been made to the mounting plate 22 for thecompartmentalized structure 18 as shown most clearly in FIGS. 2 and 5.This mounting plate may be constructed in the nature of a drip pan whichis effective in retaining moisture extracted from the atmosphere passingthrough the compartments in accordance with the teachings of thisdisclosure. Moisture so collected may thus be introduced into dryer airflowing into the cornpartments and thus provide a degree of humidicationoften found desirable in air conditioning processes.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the heatexchanging apparatus herein described will be found to be particularlyadvantageous in View of its simple construction. A particular advantageof the heat exchanging apparatus herein described is its ease ofmaintenance and repair, resulting from the fact that the closure meansmay be easily removed at both ends of the casing thus giving readyaccess to the mechanical structures contained within the casing such asthe fan motor 26, the fans 28 and 30, the heat exchanging units 32 and34 and the compressor '60. Additionally the apparatus herein describedmay of course be installed with either the open ends 40 and 42 facingthe atmosphere, the unit being identically constructed at opposite ends,and there is thus provied additional advantages in connection with theinstallation of such a unit, particularly where conned areas areencountered for such installations.

Additionally, heat exchanging apparatus of the type herein described, isreadily adaptable to large installations where ducting is utilized toconvey the conditioned air, whether heated or cooled, to the interiorareas. Further the apparatus herein described may be constructed in verylarge sizes, eg. for roof mountings, or in miniature sizes, e.g., forautomobile air conditions.

While squirrel cage type fans have been shown in the embodimentdescribed and illustrated herein, it will be obvious to those skilled inthe art that various types of fans and fan structures may be utilizedwithout departing from the teachings of this invention disclosed herein.Similarly various types of heat exchangers other than those describedherein may be utilized in accordance with the teachings of thisdisclosure. Various interconnecting means for operating the compartmentclosures may, of course, be utilized, such as levers, parallelogramdevices etc. Thermostatic controls may also be utilized for theclosures, all within the teachings of this disclosure. It will thus beseen that, while only certain preferred embodiments of this inventionhave been shown and described by way of illustration, many modificationswill occur to those skilled in the art and it is, therefore, desiredthat it be understood that it is intended in the appended claims tocover all such modifications that fall within a true spirit and scope ofthis invention.

What is claimed as new and what is desired to secure by Letters Patentof the United States is:

1. An air conditioning apparatus of the type for conditioning the air ina given area, said air conditioning apparatus comprising: a casinghaving oppositely positioned open ends; means for dividing said casinginto two sections to dene dual compartments in said casing each havingopenings corresponding to the open ends of said casing; means in saidcompartments for circulating air to and from said compartments;nonreverse cycle heat exchange means mounted in said casing incommunicating relation to said compartments; a compressor interconnectedto said heat exchange means; a closure assembly mounted adjacent theopen ends of said casing in such a manner as to close either of saidopenings of each com- 7 partment, said closure assembly includingtemperature control means comprising closure elements arranged on saidcasing in such a manner as to he operative independent of saidnonreverse cycle heat exchange means to selectively regulate thetemperature in the given area to be conditioned.

2. An air conditioning apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said temperaturecontrol means includes interconnecting means attached to said closureassembly in such a man-V ner as to enable the simultaneous closing ofone opening of each of said dual compartments arranged incorrespondingly opposite relation to each other; whereby operation ofsaid closure assembly can selectively regulate the temperature with thegiven area independent of a change in cycle of said heat exchange means.

3. An air conditioning apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said nonreversecycle heat exchange means includes a condenser unit for heating aircirculated through a first of said dual compartments and an evaporatorunit for cooling air circulating through a second of said dualcompartments; said closure assembly mounted on said casing incooperation with said interconnecting means such that operation of saidinterconnecting means serves to regulate the temperature within saidgiven area by positioning said closure assembly so as to direct air fiowfrom one of said dual compartments to said given area.

4. An air conditioning apparatus as in claim 3 where said condenser unitand said evaporator unit are mounted relative to said first and secondcompartments such that air flow associated with said condenser unit andevaporator unit is restricted to flow through said first and secondcompartments respectively.

5. An air conditioning apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said closureassembly is arranged adjacent to said dual compartment openings suchthat operation of said interconnecting means to expose the air flow ofone of said compartments to said area serves to direct the air ow of theother of said compartments to the exterior of saidl given area; wherebythe temperature of said area is dependent upon exposure to one of saidcompartments and exclusive from the other, independent of a change incycle of said nonreverse cycle heat exchange means.

6. An air conditioning apparatus of the type for conditioning the airwithin the given area, said air conditioning apparatus comprising: acasing having oppositely positioned open ends; a nonreverse cycle heatexchange means connected to said casing; means for dividing said casinginto two sections to deline dual compartments in 8 said casing eachhaving openings corresponding with the open ends of said casing; an aircirculating assembly mounted in communicating relation with each of saidcompartments, said air circulating assembly comprising duct meanscommunicating with each of said compartments; said duct means includingoppositely arranged openings positioned in corresponding relationadjacent to the open ends of said casing; fan means arranged relative tosaid duct means such that air may be directed through any of theoppositely arranged openings of said duct means; a closure assemblycomprising closure elements mounted adjacent said open ends of saidcasing, means to effect movement of said Closure elements in such amanner as to enable simultaneous closure of one opening of each of saiddual compartments arranged in correspondingly opposite relation to oneanother; where.

by positioning of said closure elements determines the direction of airow in the duct means.

7. An air conditioning apparatus as in claim 6 wherein said duct meanscomprises an individual duct mounted in cooperation with each of saiddual compartments, each of said ducts having oppositely arrangedopenings positioned adjacent to corresponding open ends of said casing,said fan means mounted on said casing relative to each of said ducts soas to direct air flow out of any oppositely arranged openings of each ofsaid ducts.

8. An air conditioning apparatus as in claim 7 where said fan meanscomprises an individual fan mounted on each of said ducts intermediatethe opposite openings thereof such that air How may be directed out toeither of said duct openings depending on the position of said closuremeans.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 121,942 12/1871 Hayden 98-41 X2,401,560 6/1946 Graham et al 62-262 X 2,899,802 8/ 1959 McMillan 62-262X 2,941,381 6/1960 Eberhart 62-262 X 2,899,984 6/1961 Argentieri et al.251-294 X 3,084,522 4/1963 Hames et al. 62-262 ROBERT A. OLEARY, PrimaryExaminer T. W. STREULE, JR., Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.

